Celebrating its 10th anniversary this summer, the Victorian Adventures History Day Camp has been providing girls the opportunity to participate in activities that will carry them back to days of old, wearing hoop skirts, making butter, learning needlework, "taking tea," candle-making and performing early American dancing, since its inception in 1997. Now held at Southern Oaks on Jeff Davis Drive, the camp originally was the brainchild of Michele Cox who developed the day camp as a fundraiser to contribute to the restoration of the Holliday-Dorsey-Fife House. Once the city of Fayetteville purchased the Holliday House, Cox began conducting the day camp as her own business in various rented facilities and added Victorian tea parties, historic school field trips, etiquette, classes and tours of the Fayetteville City Cemetery to her offerings.

In 2001, she and her husband purchased and restored a turn-of-the-century house on Jeff Davis Drive, which she named Southern Oaks, and has conducted the camp there each summer since. In addition to children’s activities, special events such as weddings, receptions, and teas are held on the grounds at Southern Oaks.

This summer, two themes are offered for girls ages 8-12—Victorian camp, which depicts the 1800s, and Colonial camp, in which girls will learn about the early American settlers of the 1700s. One week for teenagers only, called “Ladies Through Time,” will present three time-periods—the Victorian, Colonial, and Edwardian Eras.

The campers present a program and “tea” for their families on Friday evening of each camp week where they show some of what they’ve learned during the week, including several dances that they've mastered, and a presentation of historic women.

Victorian Adventures History Camp is held in one-week sessions, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. The following sessions have openings:

June 12-16—Victorian Camp
June 19-23 and June 26-30—Colonial Camp
July 10-14—Teen Week—“Ladies Thru Time”
July 17-21—Victorian Camp
July 24-28—Colonial Camp

Campers may register any time by calling Michele Cox, camp director, at (770) 460-0890 or e-mail Victorianlady@mindspring.com. For more info visit the Web site at www.VictorianAdventures.com.

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